The PIP assessment: what to expect

What the PIP assessment is

Once you've sent back your PIP form, most people are invited to an assessment with a health professional, such as a nurse, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, paramedic or doctor.

The assessor works for a company contracted by the DWP, not the DWP itself. They don't decide your claim. They write a report recommending which descriptors apply to you for each of the 12 activities. A DWP decision maker then reads the report, your form and your evidence, and decides your award.

Some people don't need an assessment at all, if the form and evidence are clear enough. That's one reason a detailed form matters.

Phone, video or face to face

Your letter will say which type of assessment you've been given:

• Telephone: the most common. The assessor calls you at the time given.
• Video: a video call using a link sent to you.
• Face to face: at an assessment centre, or at home if you can't travel. Ask for a home visit if getting there would be very difficult, and send evidence of why.

If the type you've been offered won't work for you, for example because you can't use the phone because of hearing loss or anxiety, contact the assessment provider straight away and ask for a different type. Their number is on your letter.

The questions you'll be asked

The assessor works through your conditions and then each of the 12 activities. Expect questions like:

• What conditions do you have, and when did they start? What medication do you take, and does it have side effects?
• Tell me about a typical day. What time do you get up? Who's at home with you?
• How do you prepare a meal? Do you use the hob, or the microwave? How long does it take?
• How do you wash? Bath or shower? Does anyone help or stay nearby?
• How do you get dressed? Can you manage buttons, socks and shoes?
• Do you go out on your own? Do you go to places you don't know? What happens if your route changes?
• How far can you walk before you need to stop? What happens then?
• How do you manage your money and bills?
• Do you see friends or family? How do you feel meeting new people?

For every activity, think about whether you can do it safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly and in a reasonable time, on more than half of days. Our PIP points guide explains the descriptor for each answer.

Observations and "trick questions"

There aren't really trick questions, but there are informal observations. The assessor notes things like how you got to the assessment, how you sat, whether you could hold a conversation, and your general appearance. Ordinary questions can be used as evidence too:

• "How did you get here today?" can be used to judge journeys and walking.
• "Do you have any pets?" can suggest you can care for a dog, walk it, or shop for it.
• "What do you watch on TV?" can suggest concentration.
• "Do you drive?" can be used for planning journeys.

None of this means you should be anything but honest. It means you should give the whole picture. If your partner drove you and you needed a rest halfway from the car park, say so. If you have a dog but your neighbour walks it, say that too.

How to prepare

1. Re-read the copy of your form. The assessor will have it, and they'll look for consistency.
2. Make notes for each activity: what happens, how long it takes, what goes wrong, and who helps. Take them with you. It's fine to read from them.
3. Think about your bad days and how often they happen. Keeping a diary for a week or two helps.
4. Gather any new evidence since you sent the form and take copies.
5. Plan the practical side: who's coming with you, how you'll get there, and whether you need a home visit or a different type of assessment.

On the day

• Describe your typical day, not your best one. If you're having a good day, say so, and explain what a bad day is like.
• Don't push through physical tests if they hurt. Say if something causes pain, or what it would cost you later.
• Mention the aftermath. If coming to the assessment will leave you exhausted for days, tell the assessor.
• Ask for a break or for a question to be repeated whenever you need to.

After the assessment

The assessor sends their report to the DWP. You'll get a decision letter in the post, often a few weeks later, though it can take longer. Your letter will show the points you were given for each activity.

• Ask for the assessment report. You can request a copy from the DWP. It's essential if you want to challenge the decision.
• If you disagree, you have one month to ask for a mandatory reconsideration. See our guide to PIP appeals.
• Back pay: if you're awarded PIP, it's usually paid back to the date you started your claim. Estimate it with our back pay calculator.